Using a sample of 199 adolescents, the present study examined Furman and Wehner's (1999) hypothesis that the predictors of the degree of romantic involvement and the predictors of romantic relationship cognitions and qualities differ. As hypothesized, physical appearance and friends' normative romantic involvement were related to the degree of casual and serious romantic involvement, whereas relational styles regarding friends and parents were unrelated in almost all cases. On the other hand, relational styles regarding friends and parents were related to supportive and negative romantic interactions and romantic styles,. In contrast, physical appearance and friends' normative romantic involvement were generally unrelated to interactions and romantic styles. Physical appearance was also related to romantic appeal and satisfaction. KeywordsRomantic Relationships; Dating; Attachment; Friendships; Parent-Adolescent Relationships; Physical Attractiveness Romantic experiences are a central part of most adolescents' lives. In early adolescence, youth begin to interact more frequently in mixed-sex groups (Connolly, Craig, Goldberg, & Pepler, 2004). These groups often lead to group dating and eventually dyadic dating. By middle adolescence, most have begun dating (Feiring, 1996), and many have boyfriends or girlfriends. For example, 56% of girls and 49% of boys who are 15-years-old report having a "special" romantic relationship in the last 18 months (Carver, Joyner, & Udry, 2003). These romantic experiences and relationships are hypothesized to have a significant impact on many facets of psycho-social development and adjustment (Furman & Shaffer, 2003).One of the fundamental challenges researchers face is identifying the features that are most important to understanding romantic experiences. One reason this task is challenging is because the study of adolescent romance involves more than examining the characteristics of a particular dyadic relationship. Over the course of time, most adolescents have a number of different romantic relationships. The number, as well as the characteristics of particular relationships, is important to consider. Moreover, individuals have emotions or cognitions Corresponding Author: Wyndol Furman wfurman@nova.psy.du.edu, (t) 1-303-871-3688; (f) 1-303-871-4747; Other Author: Jessica Winkles jkwinkles@gmail.com. Publisher's Disclaimer: This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final citable form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. NIH Public AccessAuthor Manuscript J Adolesc. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2011 December 1. NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript about romantic...

Transformations in Heterosexual Romantic Relationships Across the Transition Into Adulthood "Meet Me at the Bleachers. .. I Mean the Bar" Wyndol Furman Jessica K. Winkles O ne of the most striking differences between adolescence and early adulthood is the change in romantic relationships. In most Western cultures, romantic relationships first appear in adolescence, but they become increasingly interdependent and committed in

There are few family-based interventions for children and caregivers affected by trauma, and even fewer for those impacted by multiple traumas and chronic stress. Using a within-subjects design, the authors assessed the impact of a manualized multifamily group intervention that delivers a trauma-focused, skills-based treatment to families living in traumatic contexts. Since publication of the Strengthening Family Coping Resources (SFCR) feasibility trial (Kiser et al., 2010), 2 models of SFCR have been implemented nationally by a range of community agencies. A total of 13 sites contributed data to the current study sample, which included 103 families with a child age 6 to 17 years exposed to multiple traumas (51.4% female; M age ϭ 10.4 years). A total of 13 sites contributed data to the current study. Participants included 185 families with a child exposed to multiple traumas; pre-post data were submitted on 103 children age 6 to 17 years (56.7% female; M age ϭ 10.7 years). Participants completed preassessments within 2 weeks of the first session, and follow-up assessment was completed within 1 month of the final session. As predicted, results of linear mixedmodel analyses indicated child posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms decrease post SFCR (as reported by both caregivers and children). Caregivers also reported significant reductions in their child's behavior problems, healthier family functioning, and decreased parenting stress following completion of SFCR. Overall, results suggest that SFCR is a promising intervention for reducing trauma-related symptoms in children and improving family functioning when delivered in multiple real-world settings.

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